Parliament Day 2 Updates: Missing MPs from last week's meeting on pollution reprimanded

New Delhi: While the Jallianwala Bagh, SPG for Congress leaders were discussed in the morning, the rising air pollution in northern states of India was on focus, after the Rajya Sabha got back into session at 2 PM. The following are the updates from the rest of the day at the Parliament in the lower and upper house.

AITC's Sougata Roy raised the issue of JNU fee hike in the Lok Sabha. He condemned police action against university students.

Next meeting of Parliamentary Standing Committee of Urban Development over air pollution in Delhi was rescheduled to Wednesday. Representatives from Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, municipal corporations, Environment Ministry, and others are supposed to attend the meeting.

As part of the debate on pollution, Congress MP Manish Tiwari said even the Himalayan rivers, lakes and glaciers are now polluted, not just Delhi's air. He said, like Beijing, India must take steps to tackle the menace too. "Do we lack the will to do it or are we facing a resource crunch because of which Indian cities can't overcome pollution. In every Parliament session, we should dedicate one day to discuss what this committee has done and analysed. It will give a strong message that this House is serious about pollution and climate change," said the leader.

In the Rajya Sabha, a similar debate about pollution was discussed, pertaining to the rise in sea levels. Speaking about the issue Union Minister Babul Supriyo sais, "On an average, the sea level along the Indian coast is considered to be rising at about 1.70 mm/year meaning thereby that during the past 50 years, the sea level along the Indian coasts has risen by 8.5 cm."

BJP'S Lok Sabha MP Pravesh Sahib Singh criticized the Delhi government and urged the MPs to donate to controlling Delhi pollution. "The Delhi government's yearly budget for advertisement is around Rs 600 crore while the budget for advertisements for odd-even scheme was around Rs 70 crore. In these advertisements the Delhi CM screams and blames farmers in Punjab for stubble burning. You spend a majority of your time in Delhi. Your drink Delhi's water. Please donate," he said.

The Rajya Sabha passed the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The Bill had already been passed by the Lok Sabha.

TMC Lok Sabha MP Kakoli Ghosh started her speech wearing an anti-pollution mask in the parliament. She took it off and said the issue needs resolution. The Lok Sabha MPs said blaming poor farmers of Punjab, Haryana and UP isn't the the right way when addressing air pollution in Delhi. The LS Speaker Om Birla summoned the leaders who skipped the pollution meeting called last week. He warned them of punitive action if they fail to turn up for future meetings.

The central government said there are only 10 agencies in India that can intercept phones in India. They are: Intelligence Bureau, Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, Narcotics Control Bureau, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, National Investigation Agency, R&AW, Directorate of Signal Intelligence and Delhi Police Commissioner. It added that the agencies need Union Home Secretary's permission before putting anyone on surveillance.

Keywords: Parliament Day 2, Delhi air pollution, MPs, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha